Board of Education
The Board of Education is made up of seven unsalaried citizens elected to serve a three-year term. The board’s powers and duties are derived from the New York State Constitution, the laws of New York State and the rulings of the New York State Commissioner of Education. The Board of Education’s main areas of responsibility are:
- Establish district policies.
- Develop an annual budget for public approval.
- Vote on the Superintendent’s recommendations on personnel matters and contracts.
- Review courses of study and textbooks.
- Act as a communication link between residents and the Superintendent.
No person or group of persons acts in the name of the board. All motions require a majority vote before the Board can act. A board member is in an official capacity only during an official Board meeting. The Board employs a Superintendent who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the district and administration of Board policies. The Superintendent develops policies, programs and plans for Board action.
For the 2024-25 school year, all Board of Education meetings begin at 6:00pm and take place in the High School East Library.
Board Members – boe@shenschools.org
Naomi Hoffman
Naomi Hoffman, of Clifton Park, is serving her third term on the Board of Education. She retired as manager of compliance and audit for Kitware, a local R&D software technology company. She has a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany in accounting and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from SUNY Albany. She and her spouse have two children, both graduates of Shenendehowa. Term exp. 6/30/26.
Petra Holden-
President
Petra Holden, of Ballston Lake, is serving her second term on the Board of Education. She is a stay-at-home mom and was formerly an attorney. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Virginia School of Law. She and her spouse have three children who attend Shenendehowa. Term exp. 6/30/25.
Mary Colleen Liburdi
Mary Colleen Liburdi, of Rexford, is serving her first term on the Board of Education. She is currently a Technical Product Manager at Cengage Learning. She holds a BA in Fine Art and Communications from Wells College and an MA in Fine Art from the University at Albany. She and her husband, Scott, are proud parents of a child who is a current student at Shen. Term exp. 6/30/27
Gusta Miller
Gusta Miller, of Clifton Park, is serving her third term on the Board of Education. She formerly had a psychotherapy practice in Manhattan. She has a bachelor’s degree from New York University in human sexuality, a Masters of Social Work (MSW) from New York University and post-graduate work at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy. She and her spouse have two children, one who currently attends and one who has graduated from Shenendehowa. Term exp. 6/30/26.
Deanna Stephenson
Deanna Stephenson, of Halfmoon, is serving her fourth term. She is employed at Fidelis Care as Director of Provider Relations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and forensic science from SUNY Oswego and is in the process of earning a master’s degree in health care administration from Union College. She and her spouse have two children, one who currently attends and one who has graduated from Shenendehowa. Term exp. 6/30/25.
Tom Templeton-
Vice President
Tom Templeton, of Clifton Park, is serving his second term. He is the Associate Director of the Counseling Center at Siena College, and owner/psychotherapist at Templeton Mental Health Counseling, PLLC. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and psychology from Siena College and a master’s degree in education and community mental health counseling from The College of Saint Rose. He and his wife have two young children. Term exp. 6/30/25.
Carla Thompson
Carla Thompson, of Clifton Park, is serving her first term on the Board of Education. She is a retired teacher of thirty-three years at Lake Shore Central Schools and a retired Board Member of Lake Shore Central schools as well. She holds a BA degree in Teaching and an MA degree in Linguistics – teaching English as a New Language, both from SUNY Fredonia. She and her husband, Douglas, are proud parents of two grown children. Term exp. 6/30/27
Looking to run for a seat on the Board of Education?
Interested in running for the board? What all prospective school board members should know.
- Nominee for Board of Education member must be a citizen of the United States.
- Nominee for Board of Education member must be 18 years of age or older.
- Nominee for Board of Education member must have been a resident in the Shenendehowa Central School District for a period of one year preceding the date of the Annual Meeting.
- Signers of the petition must be qualified voters of the Shenendehowa Central School District.
School District employees are unable to provide information or advice about campaigning for a seat on the Board of Education.
Candidates may not place signs on District property; on the day of the election no sign may be placed within 100 feet of
the entrance to any building in which voting is taking place.
Judicial Decisions of the Commissioner of Education, which can be found at http://www.counsel.nysed.gov/Decisions/, may provide additional information concerning school election campaigns.
Nominees must follow requirements of Commissioner of Education for reporting expenses.
NYS Committee on Open Government Laws
The Shenendehowa Board of Education complies with all Open Meeting laws. The Committee on Open Government is responsible for overseeing the following:
- The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) pertains to the public’s right to gain access to government records. See notification of FOIL process and BOE Policy 3310
- The Open Meetings Law (OML) concerns the public’s right to attend meetings of public bodies. When proposed resolutions, law, rules, regulations, policies or amendments are scheduled to be discussed during an open meeting, the law requires that they be made available to the public, to the extent practicable, either prior to or at the meeting. Shenendehowa has public copies available at the meetings.
- The Personal Privacy Protection Law (PPPL) pertains to personal information collected and maintained by state agencies.
For more information on the Committee on Open Government, go to http://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/index.html
